Ryston Runner Ashby grabs category win

The first-ever Run Norwich 10K race on Sunday attracted more than 3,000 participants, among whom were nearly a couple of dozen Ryston Runners.

Winning any sort of honours in such a big field was always going to be a tough call, but Jane Ashby did just that, polishing off the rest of the W65s by over two minutes to place first in that category with 53:27. The only other Ryston Runner to figure in the prize lists was Maureen Wolfe, third W55 in 49:39.

Over a hilly course, in what one member described as “a busy field”, the only two Ryston Runners to finish in under 40 minutes were training partners Callum Stanforth and Danny Rock, within 10 seconds of each other, in 14th and 7th places and 35:31 and :41 respectively.

Gareth Hunt, still learning his road craft, was next, in 40:40, just ahead of Martin Sheldrick, 40:49, 7th M45. Such was the nature of the competition in this age group that Stewart Robins, finishing under a minute later in 41:42, placed 17th. In the W45 category, Pauline Drewery’s 48:52 was good enough for fifth place, while Karen Wood was 8th W50 with 51:41. Lesley Robins was omitted from the official results list, but on her own watch ran 45:28, which made her 4th W40.

In Grays, Essex, Pete Johnson put in a formidable performance in the Mel Batty 10K, running 38:52 for first place in the M60 category, which represents an impressive 86.66% age graded result. He had to wait almost seven minutes to greet the second place in the category across the line.